תָּבוּן (H8394) — Hebrew Lexicon

תָּבוּן

𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤍

tâbûwn

H8394 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בין to discern, distinguish, understand

Definition

Ability to discern, comprehend, or understand; insight, intelligence, or practical understanding. תָּבוּן refers particularly to the capacity for discerning between options, evaluating situations, and arriving at judicious conclusions. Its usage often carries a nuance of practical or applied understanding, distinguishing it from mere factual knowledge (דָּעַת) or rote skill.

Semantic Range

discernment, understanding, intelligence, insight, practical comprehension, ability to analyze, reasoned judgment, prudence, discretion

Root / Etymology

From the root בין (ב-י-ן), meaning 'to separate, distinguish, discern.' The noun תָּבוּן derives from this root, signifying the result or quality of discerning or understanding; related nouns include תְּבוּנָה and תּוֹבֻנָה, sharing the same semantic field.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תָּבוּן describes both general intelligence and a specific capacity for discernment and wise decision-making, often applied to leaders, artisans, or those whose work requires insight (e.g., Exodus 31:3; Deuteronomy 1:13). It is distinguished from חָכְמָה (wisdom), which can sometimes suggest broader wisdom traditions, and דָּעַת (knowledge), which more often refers to acquired information or learning. תָּבוּן occurs most frequently in Wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job), where it is highly valued as a practical faculty governing speech, behavior, and planning. Later translations at times conflate its meaning with 'wisdom,' 'understanding,' or 'prudence,' but these may miss the specific nuance of discernment inherent in תָּבוּן. The function of תָּבוּן in the post-exilic period remains largely consistent, although the development of philosophical Hebrew introduces overlapping terminology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

and (feminine) תְּבוּנָה; or תּוֹבֻנָה; from בִּין; intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice; discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

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Root Family

בין (b-y-n) — to discern, distinguish, understand

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1143	בֵּנַיִם	the between-two space
H2985	יָבִין	like Yavin
H946	בּוּנָה	and Bunah
H995	בִּין	I discern
H996	בֵּין	in between
H997	בֵּין	between
H998	בִּינָה	in discernment
H999	בִּינָה	discernment

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H8394-07`	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment	13
`H8394-10`	וּ/תְבוּנָה֙	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment	6
`H8394-01`	בִּ/תְבוּנָ֥ה	bitevunah	`HR/Ncfsa`	with understanding	in discernment	4
`H8394-08`	תְּבוּנ֖וֹת	tevunot	`HNcfpa`	of understanding	discernments	4
`H8394-13`	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ	uvitevunato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and by his understanding	and in his discernment	3
`H8394-11`	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֥ה	uvitevunah	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and by understanding	and in discernment	2
`H8394-06`	לִ/תְבוּנָתֽ/וֹ	litevunato	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	his understanding	to his discernment	2
`H8394-04`	לַ/תְּבוּנָֽה	latevunah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to understanding	to the discernment	2
`H8394-05`	לִ֝/תְבוּנָתִ֗/י	litevunati	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	to my understanding	to my discernment	1
`H8394-12`	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔	uvitevunatekha	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	and by your understanding	and in your discernment	1
`H8394-02`	הַ/תְּבוּנָה֙	hatevunah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the understanding	the discernment	1
`H8394-14`	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנ֖וֹת	uvitevunot	`HC/R/Ncfpc`	and by the skillfulness	and in discernments of	1
`H8394-09`	תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם	tevunoteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your reasonings	your discernments	1
`H8394-03`	כִּ/תְבוּנָ/ם֙	kitevunam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	according to their understanding	their discernment	1
`H8394-15`	ו/ב/תובנת/ו	vvtvvntv	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and-by-his-understanding	and in his discernment	1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H8394-11`	Exodus 31:3	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֥ה	uvitevunah	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and in understanding	and in discernment
`H8394-01`	Exodus 35:31	בִּ/תְבוּנָ֥ה	bitevunah	`HR/Ncfsa`	with understanding	in discernment
`H8394-10`	Exodus 36:1	וּ/תְבוּנָה֙	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment
`H8394-07`	Deuteronomy 32:28	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-10`	1 Kings 5:9	וּ/תְבוּנָ֖ה	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment
`H8394-02`	1 Kings 7:14	הַ/תְּבוּנָה֙	hatevunah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the understanding	the discernment
`H8394-08`	Isaiah 40:14	תְּבוּנ֖וֹת	tevunot	`HNcfpa`	of understanding	discernments
`H8394-06`	Isaiah 40:28	לִ/תְבוּנָתֽ/וֹ	litevunato	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	of his understanding	to his discernment
`H8394-07`	Isaiah 44:19	תְבוּנָה֮	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-13`	Jeremiah 10:12	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ	uvitevunato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and by His understanding	and in his discernment
`H8394-13`	Jeremiah 51:15	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ	uvitevunato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and by his understanding	and in his discernment
`H8394-12`	Ezekiel 28:4	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔	uvitevunatekha	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	and by your understanding	and in your discernment
`H8394-03`	Hosea 13:2	כִּ/תְבוּנָ/ם֙	kitevunam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	according to their understanding	their discernment
`H8394-07`	Obadiah 1:7	תְּבוּנָ֖ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-10`	Obadiah 1:8	וּ/תְבוּנָ֖ה	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment
`H8394-08`	Psalms 49:4	תְבוּנֽוֹת	tevunot	`HNcfpa`	understandings	discernments
`H8394-14`	Psalms 78:72	וּ/בִ/תְבוּנ֖וֹת	uvitevunot	`HC/R/Ncfpc`	and by the skillfulness	and in discernments of
`H8394-01`	Psalms 136:5	בִּ/תְבוּנָ֑ה	bitevunah	`HR/Ncfsa`	with understanding	in discernment
`H8394-06`	Psalms 147:5	לִ֝/תְבוּנָת֗/וֹ	litevunato	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	his understanding	to his discernment
`H8394-04`	Proverbs 2:2	לַ/תְּבוּנָֽה	latevunah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to understanding	to the discernment
`H8394-04`	Proverbs 2:3	לַ֝/תְּבוּנָ֗ה	latevunah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for understanding	to the discernment
`H8394-10`	Proverbs 2:6	וּ/תְבוּנָֽה	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 2:11	תְּבוּנָ֥ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	Understanding	discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 3:13	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-01`	Proverbs 3:19	בִּ/תְבוּנָֽה	bitevunah	`HR/Ncfsa`	by understanding	in discernment
`H8394-05`	Proverbs 5:1	לִ֝/תְבוּנָתִ֗/י	litevunati	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	to my understanding	to my discernment
`H8394-10`	Proverbs 8:1	וּ֝/תְבוּנָ֗ה	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and understanding	and discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 10:23	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	of understanding	discernment
`H8394-08`	Proverbs 11:12	תְּבוּנ֣וֹת	tevunot	`HNcfpa`	of understanding	discernments
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 14:29	תְּבוּנָ֑ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 15:21	תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	of understanding	discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 17:27	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	of understanding	discernment
`H8394-01`	Proverbs 18:2	בִּ/תְבוּנָ֑ה	bitevunah	`HR/Ncfsa`	in understanding	in discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 19:8	תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 20:5	תְּבוּנָ֣ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	of understanding	discernment
`H8394-07`	Proverbs 21:30	תְּבוּנָ֑ה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	understanding	discernment
`H8394-11`	Proverbs 24:3	וּ֝/בִ/תְבוּנָ֗ה	uvitevunah	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and by understanding	and in discernment
`H8394-08`	Proverbs 28:16	תְּ֭בוּנוֹת	tevunot	`HNcfpa`	understanding	discernments
`H8394-07`	Job 12:12	תְּבוּנָֽה	tevunah	`HNcfsa`	is understanding	discernment
`H8394-10`	Job 12:13	וּ/תְבוּנָֽה	utevunah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-understanding	and discernment
`H8394-15`	Job 26:12	ו/ב/תובנת/ו	vvtvvntv	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and-by-his-understanding	and in his discernment
`H8394-13`	Job 26:12	וּ֝/בִ/תְבוּנָת֗/וֹ	uvitevunato	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and-by-his-understanding	and in his discernment
`H8394-09`	Job 32:11	תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם	tevunoteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your reasonings	your discernments

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